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In testimony before the Texas House of Representatives on July 11, 2012, Shar Habibi, In the Public Interest Resource Center Director, warned legislators that ill-conceived privatization initiatives could lead to higher costs, a decrease in service quality, missed deadlines, unaccountable contractors and reduction in transparency.

The Partnership’s Kathleen Mulligan-Hansel and Ben Beach will both be invited panelists in an August 3 symposium on community benefits convened by the City of Cleveland. The symposium, entitled, “Community Benefits: Making Development Accountable” follows on Mayor Frank Jackson’s call, in his 2012 State of the City Address, for increased use of Community Benefits Agreements on major development projects.

The Partnership has been working closely with Policy Matters Ohio and Mayor Jackson’s office to advance the community benefits conversation in Cleveland, where billions of dollars’ worth of new development are expected in the coming years.

Our cities’ waste and recycling systems are hopelessly out of date, failing to address the imperative to create high quality jobs in urban areas and the urgent need to address local environmental injustice and impending climate change. When labor, community, environmental justice and climate justice leaders work together, they can make real change that maximizes outcomes on both levels. That was the message delivered by the Partnership’s Deputy Director, Kathleen Mulligan-Hansel, at the Labor Leaders’ Climate Forum organized by Cornell University’s Global Labor Institute.

OCCORD’s campaign to make Santa Ana city government more accountable is blazing hot! As one of the leaders of the Santa Ana Collaborative for Responsible Development (SACReD) Coalition, OCCORD has taken major steps toward passage of a “Sunshine Ordinance.” The Coalition’s effort has attracted plenty of attention.

...On July 2, the campaign won a major victory, with the Santa Ana City Council unanimously approving the campaign’s Sunshine Ordinance platform and instructing the City Attorney to draft an ordinance.

They say that the tide is turning in the Puget Sound. Boeing orders are flying high. Amazon is priming a new campus. Tourism and business travel are pushing the needle. More passengers are landing at Sea-Tac airport than ever. And Walmart wants to sell groceries to our communities. It sure is great to be in the midst of growing prosperity -- unless you aren’t prospering.

Over the last few months, Puget Sound Sage has released four studies showing that as we rebuild our regional economy, too many people are left behind.

Congratulations to Deborah Scott, one of our founding board members who was recently honored by the White House with a Champions of Change award. Scott was recognized for her leadership of Georgia Stand-UP and their innovative approaches to promote energy efficiency, revitalize outdoor spaces, encourage transportation options, and improve quality of life in the Greater Atlanta region. “Healthy, sustainable communities support a strong economy and better quality of life for Americans,” said Nancy Sutley, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality. “The leaders we’ve selected as Champions of Change are finding creative ways to make their communities healthier places to live, work and play, and demonstrating how a healthy environment and strong economy go hand in hand.”

[On June 19], hundreds of community members turned out to tell our elected officials and the army base developers to deliver on their promise of good jobs for the local families that need them most. And we won big.

Calls on City Leaders to Embrace Plan for Shared Prosperity

Partnership for Working Families |
March 30, 2012

Los Angeles for a New Economy (LAANE) announced the appointment of Roxana Tynan as the new executive director, succeeding founder Madeline Janis, who moves into a newly created role as the organization’s first National Policy Director. The Partnership welcomed the leadership transitions and new role for Tynan, who has been instrumental in the expansion of LAANE’s work and impact over the past decade.

When government services shift to private contractors, taxpayers not only pay the bill, they risk losing once public information and the ability to oversee public services. To expose this disturbing national trend, In the Public Interest (ITPI), a project of the Partnership, released a report in mid-March during Sunshine Week 2012.

The Partnership congratulates four members of our network who were selected as winners of the REVERB spring grants program. An initiative of the Progressive Technology Project, REVERB is designed to help social justice organizations develop effective ways to align their organizing, communications, and technology efforts.